There's a City in Italy Called...

Picture by Patrick Chevallier

Smells and Love Stories [Prague Airport].

Travelling in memories. In memories of the best student times of 2008. Would love to see more than Airport, but the time is limited.

The language sounds as usually soft [even if it’s told to be opposite], but this time I can hardly understand what people are talking about.
I love airports. Indeed. Those loads of people, searching their gates and carrying big bags – in different colors [makes overall view important and very posh. Hehe.] – make you feel you’re going somewhere. And indeed I am. There’s something inspiring in all this multi-cultural mess of business men, mums taking their kids to WC, beautiful strangers which make you fall-in and out of love [as fast as the gate-ways are going here and there and what a pitty - you’re heading in different direction. Sometimes you’re on the same Boeing dragon, feeling the power of its’ wings made of steel]. Clean toilets, smoking prohibitions, innovations, bored ladies in small coffee worlds located next to each other and repleted with smells coming from duty-free shops of Parfume. People communicating in all possible languages of the world or being silent and thinking great thoughts. There’s something magnificent and united in all this reality of sky-dive providers. And I’m in it. Keeping the feeling as long as it stays. Let’s fly. High in the sky.

Intellectual Tea Drinking.

Recently I was reading stories of a group of young people writing their interpretations about global icons. Beside a global phenomena of beauty and problems of homosexuals in Baltic region, there were a few inspiring stories about Erasmus experience – of a huge responsibility of presenting your country – as at some point suddenly it has your face and your views on life – which you share with other curious minds, wanting to explore more and more... but one thing which thrilled me and made me think of secretly following the exposed habbit someday – was one lady’s experience with souvenir cups. I don’t know if it was true and she does this regularly, but the plan was to come together with friends [or family, depends on your relations] and have an informative and fun thematic tea drinking – everyone would get one random cup – representing one country and have a lively discussion telling people, what’s happening in that country. Imagine – it’s December, it’s snowing outside, it’s freakin’ cold, but we go out for a smoke on the balcony and speak about international politics and survival kit for the chosen country... the cousine, the card games, the famous bastards, numerous loves at first sight, art galleries and fashion weeks... until not only tea becomes cold, but the feet as well start to become numb... but we continue...
Well, maybe I thought of this just because I have a small collection of such souvenir cups... otherwise – it’s quite nice way to follow the news on the world stage, if you didn’t manage to check yourself...

Hey, Soulsister...

The Truth is...

This blog seems to be dead. There are loads of Human Stories in my mind... and they are just waiting to be spread out... and waiting already for a long time... SHAME ON ME!

Hitch-Hiking Is Like Liquorice Candies - You Love It Or Hate it!

Sometimes seeing couples or loners on the road with paper signs with the names of big cities and with the thumb raised up makes a lively joke in a regular life of high-ways. Beside the fact that hitch-hiking is becoming quite popular among young people by means of exploring the world, the feelings about this method of travelling differ – and mainly it’s like with Liquorice candies – you like it or hate it. But what is hitch-hiking? It’s not just standing on the edge of a lonely or rather busy road with a thumb raised up trying to stop the car, which is going in a preferred direction. It’s more about meeting strangers on your way and conversations! Anyhow, even if English is worldly accepted communication language, knowing other languages gives a huge benefit of spending time in random companies of strangers quite vivid and full of discussions while getting to final destination. It’s about being brave to challenge self in spontaneous and unknown situations. The curiosity to explore is the thing that keeps it going. People call it crazy, people call it dangerous. And in both ways they are right, and it’s everyone’s choice to do it or not. And beside there’s always buses going on their regular routes at exact times of the day.
[Search for the full article inside "DoRight" June issue]

Existential Happiness.

While big boobs are winning second semi-finals of Eurovision [feel sorry for Lithuanians, as they were the best from all that crap shown on television last night, although they didn't have boobs], my mind comes to existential questions - how do people survive these days, what do they do for living?
Everyday passing through my small town on my way to the office I see a smiling lady in her 50-ties on the edge of Bazaar, hiding under big umbrella [whether is meant against the sun or either rain] and selling apples. Everyday! And she greets me with warm hello, asking where I'm going, in fact that she already knows where I'm heading to. Always so happy and smiling. Maybe the colors of reddish-yellow apples brings another joyful spectrum in seeing life in bright colors. And I feel happy to greet her.

Another old lady living in a house next to the office, always enjoying morning sun with glass of Lemon Schwepps smiles and says "Hello,what a nice sunny day outside, come over for the coffee!" And I refuse again, telling that I have work to do. But is it that hard - to leave all that work - and just go - to enjoy a frivolous chat with retired Geography teacher? C'mon! She has interesting stories to tell... she lived in another times... and I'm curious about them. I bring her fresh strawberries from the market and skip the coffee enjoyment for another time. As there will be another times. And sometimes it's just enough with one strong emotion - feeling of happiness... So dare and share it...
[By the way - I had the best morning ever - having a morning coffee while watching the world news on TV. Sometimes TV box is a real luxury ;)]
By the way - beside all those crimes and catostrophes, global challenges taking our minds, there is still space for our dreams. So start making the list! ;)

Life of an NGO - Leading Politics Without Government.

You’re young and strong willed? You know what you want to achieve in your nearest future? Or actually you have no clue about the future, but you have some bright ideas at the present, which could change exactly your future and the society you’re living in? Just start a magazine, make an art workcamp for kids, help to prevent starvation in Africa, set up a football match against racism, create a workshop to clean the city – do whatever is good to keep society curious about certain meaningful topics – and a NGO is one of the best places to do it!

Like in the beginning of the world there was a purpose of creating something (if we believe that was this “cosmic” dust transformed into the planet Earth we inhabit now), and creating comes out mainly from idea. An idea which survives the times, circumstances and problems. The same can be referred to the creation of a non-governmental organization (further NGO). Mainly in the beginning it’s just a small group of enthusiastic people sharing the same interests about certain topics and a big wish to influence the on-going affairs in local or global level (feeling the urge of preventing certain problems/ speaking out about global consequences in local communities/ alter “unhealthy” thinking etc.)

When this small group is experienced enough (already making some voluntary activities in changing things around them and they succeed), the time comes to establish an organization officially – with main values, goals, rules and regulations, statement of intent and name, which usually gives a brief insight on main activities of the organization.

That’s how a non-governmental organization is born, after the celebration of new-born it’s time to enlarge the range of activities, promotion and voluntary participants (as NGOs are usually working on voluntary basis). When human resources are enlarged by a bunch of enthusiastic people wanting to change this world, it’s time to activate more and more projects, which will strengthen the values of the organization and make people involved closer to each other (friends) and the ideas they follow. When small informational and educational voluntary activities are not enough anymore (even with all this enthusiastic voluntary spirit) and the question comes to money issues – it’s time to search for financial support (either it’s support from local municipality or private companies for several projects or either “Youth in Action” program providing various ways for creative exposure for young minds to make projects and get funding for approved projects). It all depends on the way an NGO is working to get funding for their activities and whether they need money – as the main player still remains the human with his free will to participate and do some changes in society. Nevertheless, NGOs have critical points in their evolution – when the old leader is tired (or wanting to go further in his career) and the young one is not yet ready to keep the track – it usually happens after 2 years of existence. In a lucky situation the new leader takes things under control and the NGO experiences some changes and continues its’ evolutionary chart.

Being a part of an NGO is not just about dealing with bureaucratic circumstances and being involved in activities, it’s about bringing creative ideas, producing lively discussion, team-building, gaining organizational skills, keeping minds aware about global and local issues which matter and taking new challenges. Beside that – entering the society of NGO-ers, which bring not only new contacts (all around the country and abroad) and helping hands in realizing projects (collaboration), but as well different informational fields (full of opportunities for young people to participate and be active). Maybe you’ll start as a follower of someone else's ideas which are so close to your ideals, but anyway that day when you’ll establish your own NGO is already written down in future. For some people it’s like a disease – once you’re in, you can’t get out. Anyway if being active in the NGO sector doesn’t take you in so deep, overall it’s a great experience in a never ending process of non-formal learning.

Struga GANG Production presents: Biljana's Birthday Movie 2010!

Architecture - Real Estate of Mind

Architecture – not just the science of building stable houses with different shapes and accessories, according to current fashion… and architects – not just brave knights of future thinking drawing chimneys and projecting constructions of new libraries in their imaginative mind, while speaking with you… there’s definitely something more... more professional and dealing with responsibility – for creating or improving living environments for countless generations…

However in all times an architect as an image of a person, architecture and the profession of the architect were profoundly defined terms in the consciousness of society and it won’t change its’ meaning despite strong influence of differentiated social contexts. It stays as real estate presenting all kinds of emotions carried within the creation process…

A Cocktail of triumphant ideas
Nameless city. Large enough to gather all the masterpieces created since the time when people tried to fill up their living space with harmony. Maybe it started with nature, but continuously the art of building houses tried to leave remarkable footprints of understanding the beautiful. The colorful “ice-cream” hats of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow (referring to Russian national style), the palace of Versailles (home for royal ancestors and example of French Baroque Era), Taj Mahal mausoleum (mix of Persian, Indian and Islamic architecture), Gaudi’s House of Bones [Casa Batlló] (a highly unique feature of art-nouveau), ugly forms of functionalism (presented mostly as block houses worldwide), Frank Gehry’s metallic clouds and dancing houses (confirming artistic liberty of modern times in deconstructive manner) and other numerous examples, keeping the interaction between cultures and styles, exposed in descriptions of certain timelines… In this chaos of figures, structures, materials, colors and ideas – stands out the meaning, as every house is built or destroyed on purpose. Wherever it comes from - it appears with the urge for change. In this case the architecture is functioning as a reflection of artifacts visualizing the interpretation of lifestyles, tendencies and overall philosophy for exact period of history, and as well keeping the sprouts in the ground for future creations.

Life of a creator – dreamer versus demand
Today’s information society presents a choosy consumer wanting to be amazed by an original product and at the same time feeling comforted inside of new shapes created by constructional magicians of the New Age (functional and attractive). World-famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas once said that every architect is a dreamer, trying to make this world better. From one side he’s right – as all the constructions and searches for new forms of exposure speak by themselves. From the other side – working hard on implementing demands and if in the past it more followed the guidelines of current style, then now when everything is done before – competing for the best performance on the world stage. Mostly it’s a fight of giants in an amusement park, which in the end provides us with fruitful conjunction of pieces of urban reality – Frank Gehry (Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain), Rem Koolhaas (Central China Television Headquarters Building in Beijing, China), Jørn Utzon (Sydney Opera House), Santiago Calatrava (Alamillo Bridge in Seville, Spain)… and other bright minds are still on the way to make a show on the world stage...